Mettle Wrestling helps kids be resilient in difficult situations through the sport of wrestling. They are one of the winners for the Fall 2012 Liberty Mutual Insurance Responsible Sports Community Grant.  They plan to use the Grant to help ensure they will have coaches at weekend tournaments. This will help guarantee that each wrestler has a quality coach in the corner and the parents can step back and be a responsible parent. They used Facebook and the Leaderboard Facebook share option to rally support around their effort. They also required parents to take the quiz before their children received their equipment for the season. Organization administrator Cole Kelley adds, “I would encourage [other organizations] to focus on the merits of the quiz rather than the grant. The quiz has some important information that parents need to learn. I have referred to the quiz with my parents on several occasions and helped them recognize the wisdom of the lessons being taught in the Responsible Sports Quiz.”

The Ocilla Wrestling Club's goal is to provide their program's participants the necessary resources to ensure their experience in wrestling is meaningful and memorable and that the lessons and skills acquired from it will last their entire life. They are also one of the winners for the Fall 2012 Liberty Mutual Insurance Responsible Sports Community Grant.  The Grant will help the team purchase new wrestling mats which are desperately needed. They used Facebook as a key driver to rally support along with flyers and booths at local events. “We are extremely excited and proud to be a recipient of this grant, especially in the tough economic times our community and country are currently facing. We are grateful for and humbled by the support we received from so many in our small town and abroad during the grant period,” added team administrator Therese Mixon.

Wondering what the Community Grant program is?  It is a competition-based fundraising program that is designed to reward youth sports clubs and organizations with one of fifteen $2,500 grants.  Your next opportunity starts this Spring.  The Spring Community Grant period opens on March 1, 2013 and closes on May 31, 2013.  Your wrestling team could be one of the next winners! Learn more today!

The Liberty Mutual Responsible SportsTM program supports volunteer youth sports coaches and parents who help our children succeed both on and off the field.  We offer many youth sports resources including $2,500 community grants, instructional videos, weekly tips, peer and expert advice, and coursework for those interested in improving the youth sports experience for all involved.